I remember my first solo private pilot cross country. It was a short 54 mile flight just northwest of my home airport. I was so excited yet nervous at the same time, I had done local flights solo and was confident in the airplane but this was my first time really leaving the comfort of the “known” and entering the “unknown”
Now I feel these same anxieties on a regular basis each time I send a student out on a solo cross country. How do I help students prepare for their first solo cross country? Let’s take a look.
It Starts With A Great Plan
I never send my student anywhere on a solo cross country that they haven’t been to without me. What i’m saying is, usually we do a dual cross country to the same place I send them to fly their solo cross country.
This helps a ton with planning. Students quickly learn what are “good” checkpoints on a sectional. Many of my pilots start by picking arbitrary things they find on the sectional like “Oh! That big tower looks good” Just to realize the odds of finding that once in the air are slim.
Here Are Some Tips I Give Students As They Prepare For Their First Solo Cross Country
- Pick checkpoints you know you can find or have found in the past
- Start planning early, use the night before to knockout non-weather related items and do the weather stuff the day of
- Work on your organization, where will you put everything in the cockpit? Remember you have an extra seat!
Your first private pilot cross country solo is going to be a huge confidence booster. Just remember to play ahead, stay organized, and pick checkpoints that you can actually find.
Have any memories from your first solo cross country? Or are you busy getting ready for one? I’d love to hear about it. Leave me a comment below.
